A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fives family of France.
Reg. 3567 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. à une gerbe d'or; au chef d'arg. [V. Fievez dit de Malines.]”
FranceCambr, c. 1663
Where the Fives Arms Were Recorded
Cambr
Map of France showing where the Fives arms are recorded
The Fives arms were recorded in Cambr, c. 1663.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Fives arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Fives Family in France
The surname Fives is a rare and distinct name that likely emerged from regional naming traditions in Western Europe. Historical records confirm that members of the Fives family were established in the area of Cambrai, France, by the year 1663. During this period, families in the region often identified themselves based on their local geography or their specific trade within the community. Because Cambrai was a significant center for commerce and textile production in the seventeenth century, it is probable that early ancestors were involved in the bustling urban life of this fortified city. Over the following generations, the family name persisted through local parish registers and civil documents, marking their long-standing presence in the northern French landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fiv
Derived from the Latin word for five or a fifth-born child.
This name
FivesA locative or occupational surname likely referring to a person from the commune of Fives.
also spelled
Fivves
Fivs
Fivess
Related arms
Fivezvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales du Nord, Registres paroissiaux de la ville de Cambrai, 1663
Le Glay, André, Recherches sur l'histoire de la ville de Cambrai, 1831
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
